Fundraising Kicks Off For Welsh Premier Referee

Principality Welsh Premier League referee Wayne Stephens from Llanelli will be fundraising at every game that he officiates this football season.

Sgt. Wayne Stephens, currently based at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, has been a member of the Royal Air Force for 14 years. Wayne has completed tours of Iraq, Afghanistan and the Falkland Islands with another tour of Afghanistan due in June 2011.

There will be a donation bucket at the turnstile of every game that he officiates on, giving spectators the opportunity to donate at will. Several clubs have gone one step further by means of a raffle at several games throughout the season, with Llanelli AFC holding a donation box at their grounds cafe, where all donations will be given to the RAFBF.

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is the RAF's leading welfare charity, providing financial, practical and emotional support to all members of the RAF family

The fundraising campaign kicked off at the GenQuip Stadium, Port Talbot, where a total of £76.16 was raised. Stephens commented,

"I would like to thank everyone at Port Talbot Town football club for kindly donating and for helping to start this campaign. I would also like to thank the Welsh FA and the 12 Pricnipality Welsh Premier clubs for allowing the fundraising to take place."

"The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is the RAF's leading welfare charity, providing financial, practical and emotional support to all members of the RAF family. We are here for serving and former members of the RAF, as well as their partners and dependants, whenever they need us.

"We help members of the RAF family deal with a wide range of issues; from childcare and relationship difficulties to injury and disability, and from financial hardship and debt to illness and bereavement."

For further information please visit www.rafbf.org